Images: Photo Contest Finalists

The sun sets over a dock during the summer in Conover, Wisconsin.Colin Morabito of Libertyville

A cat looks through a hole in the side of the barn off Route 60 as several cats play nearby.Curt Sriver of Libertyville

As the rain turned to a downpour, most visitors who came to see The Bean at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago were caught without umbrellas earlier this month. The all huddled under The Bean and waited for the thunderstorm to pass.Gary S. Takahashi of Arlington Heights

This heron on a piling forms an interesting silhouette in Commencement Bay near Tacoma, Washington.Robert M. Sharp of Gilberts

A lone shell lies on the great white sand beaches of Captiva Island.Trevor Morrison of Arlington Heights

We enjoy leaving bird seed and corn out for the back yard critters, they usually put on quite a show. When we decided to put out some old peanuts, it surprised us that the Blue Jays flew off with most of them.They were very entertaining to watch, they flew back and forth until every last peanut was picked up.Kathy Jordan of Campton Hills

This picture was taken in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin this fall. I love the colors of the sky and water and the colorful rocks. Some water smoothing had occurred due to a 5 second shutter speed.Richard Baley of Elgin

The Hoffman Estates High School Marching Band is reflected in a tuba during the Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, November 11th, at the Hoffman Estates Police Department.Mona S. Morrison of Hoffman Estates

Driftwood, footsteps in the sand, and the waves create a calming effect on a Maui beach earlier this month.Nancy Giardina of Libertyville

This is a photo of the Chicago skyline from the lakeshore near the Belmont exit off Lake Shore Drive. I took the photo with a Yashica Electro 35 GSN with Kodak Portra 400 NC at f8 for about five or so minutes.Jena Vivek of Naperville

In our backyard, even the squirrels deserve a Thanksgiving dinner!Kim Van Oss of Wheaton

This gazebo is clearly visible from my yard. I walked over there one evening and took some photos. This is an HDR photo composite.Angela Cichosz of Carol Stream

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